Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Ok, so Jeff obviously infiltrated my blog this morning! What a sweet gift to give me (and our boys) to write down his side of the story on how we met.

From being persuaded to check out Auburn which lead to a blind date... which lead to meeting the date's brother... which lead to a job... then a "talking to" from his mama about girls and a specific thoughtful prayer on his part about the woman he would marry. God had been working to bring us together for a long time... which I can relate to in my reflections as well.

Let's start by saying this will not be your average post... this is the other half of who you know now. I know her as my "Miss Becky"! I can't imagine what life would be without her... I don't even want to try:). So as she lays sleeping I thought I would squeeze in as much about how God brought us together... Hang on for this whirl wind... these are only the highlights!

It starts with one guy that I knew only as an acquaintance growing up. He's one of the smartest guys I know... and I know a lot of them! He got sick and failed a test that would allow him into air traffic controller training... only by 3 points. He became a facilitator for a satellite course during my senior year. He became my BF and convinced me to "just look" at AUBURN for my choose in colleges... though I was a HUGE Alabama fan (Arch Rivals).

At the Alabama campus during my Engineering Day visit I got lost and needed directions. I saw a group of guys and girls (about 7 of them) that were walking towards me... Great! I'll ask them! They saw me... and ignored me... Went across the street to avoid me... All of them! Not a good impression. :(

At the Auburn Engineering Day... same story but... the guy I flagged down? He stopped looked at his watch and said, "I was going to be a little late anyway...". He then walked me ACROSS CAMPUS to the appropriate place and the whole time talked to me about how Auburn was an AUsome place to be. :) So I choose Auburn...

I got sick the day of the day of the ACT testing... but made the grade just barely enough to be able to get in... good enough for me!!!!

While at Auburn my now best friend... the HS facilitator from above... his girl friend (and now wife) wanted to fix me up with her best friend from HS. This girl had just broken up with her HS sweetheart and had never dated anyone else... "Great I'll go!!!" So I went home to meet her and we had a great couple date... and I met her brother Thomas. Thomas was an Auburn coop with Champion Papers... and was getting ready for coop day the next week. One of the first things he said to me was, "Hey you should sign up!".

So now I went to the Coop Adviser who said, "You are not a minority and you are not a female... you will NOT get a job." But I signed up anyway. Champion was one of three places that I signed up.

At the Champion booth was a man named Scott as Thomas was in class. We had a pleasant conversation. He said, "If you are really interested then go talk to our current coop, Thomas. He is a student here at Auburn." Yep... this was my fixed-up date's brother who I already knew... so I went by to talk! I was the only one to go by and see Thomas so I got the job... or should I say "God delivered the job to me!!!"

BTW. One week later the girl I dated broke up with me and went back to her high school sweetheart... they are now married! I am the ONLY other guy she ever dated besides her now husband!!!!

Long story short... I got the coop job and then was offered a full time job after college!! Yeah!!

I dated many girls shortly before and shortly after graduating from Auburn... so many my mom told me, "I can't stand meeting all these girls. I get attached and then you break up with them. It breaks my heart! So don't bring any more girls around unless you know she's the one!" Oh the pressure!! :) But I agreed... I was tired of dating anyway.

I prayed about it... HARD! This was probably the longest prayer of my life. Hours. I prayed for my future wife... That she would be a great mom to my kids... That she would challenge me... That she would be very smart... That she would be attractive me MY WHOLE LIFE... That I would NEVER even THINK that she would cheat on me... That she would be a christian companion... That we would grow together spiritually... And, if possible, I would like her to look like similar to Sandra Bullock... (LOL! Yeap, I really did pray that!!!)... That she would age very well!... (Yeap that too!)... But most of all that she would be MY BEST FRIEND!!... And so much more... (remember... hours!)

Two weeks later, I was assigned my first task as a full time employee. And I was given a coop to work with me... MY MISS BECKY!!! She was HOT!!!!! She said she didn't know anyone in town... so I jumped, "I'll show you around town!!!";)

Within the first week she said, "Many of my friends think I look like Sandra Bullock..." I felt like a rock had just hit me!

First Date was AWESOME!!!! I felt like I knew her my whole life!!!

The next week she said, "Most people think my mom is my sister because she looks so young!!!". Another rock hit me as I remembered my prayer... (she ages well!!!). I looked at her with a bewildered look and said, "Don't be surprised if I ask you to marry me!!''... That's right only knew her for a little over one week!!!! Shortly after that I knew I had never loved anyone this way before... I couldn't see my life without her in it... AT ALL!!!!

She met my mom the next week!!! :)

Two years later I did ask her to marry me... in one of our favorite places to ride my four-wheeler... our cow pasture!!! SHE SAID YES!!! One year later we were married!!!

I will say that even now, years later, she'll do something that reminds me of the prayer I prayed... She has been the fulfillment of it "To a Tee"!!!

I am not much on listening to the radio... I will drive hours in the silence... (we have three boys... silence is a luxury!!) However, I have been traveling a lot lately and I finally turned on the radio two days ago... this song came on shortly after turning it on... I cried... because it is exactly what I was thinking the day before... And THEN.

I love you Miss Becky!!! I hope you have a great Birthday... You are my whole world!!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Friday night I noticed some patches on Witt's inner calves that he was itching. They looked just like previous cases of eczema and I treated them as such with some extra lotion to begin with. Sometimes that's all it takes.

Saturday morning he woke up scratching the back of his neck and right above the back of his diaper.

By noon he was itching his stomach and chest.

Sunday began the upper chest, neck, and shoulders.

Last night he woke up itching uncontrollably - even on his scalp. I gave him some more Benedryl and laid down with him for over an hour. He twisted and turned and scratch and itched. I turned the light on a few times to check him out to make sure his whole body wasn't red. Finally I sat down with him on his bedroom floor cut his fingernails as short as I could, changed his diaper, lotioned him up, rocked him and put him back to bed. He woke earlier than usual at 6:30 am this morning.

Today he's added the upper arms to his itch fest.

I have been giving him Benedryl orally and via cream all weekend. It provided about two hours relief and then he would be miserable again. Oatmeal baths provided some relief as well. I've been trying to keep him in light, long pants and his shirt tucked in to keep his fingernails away from his skin.

I've racked my brain over what this could be... did I miss something in his food? Have I changed soaps or detergents? What about poison ivy or poison oak? Maybe it's a latex allergy... he was in a blow-up pool on Friday. Did something bite him?

We had a similar occurance last year. I remember it was the first really nice day of Spring. He was out in a Tshirt and his diaper. He itched all the next day, but that was it. He was out all day Friday in a Tshirt and diaper "helping" me plant our vegetable garden. Could pollen be doing this?

I finally got a chance to bring Witt to see his pediatrician today. After careful inspection, Dr. P said it is undoubtably eczema... and a bad case of one... especially for a two year old. He said it is most likely caused by something environmental. He also said that although these sort of things tend to get worse from year to year, it is unusual for it to escalate to this severity from one year to the next.

He prescriped an oral steroid for the next 6 days, a steriod cream for up to 2 weeks, and Zyrtec once a day for the rest of Spring (until around Memorial Day). He said it is very likely that come mid-August we will need to start the Zyrtec up again for the Fall. He also highly recommended a bath immediately after being outdoors. He said that even when I take him home from the appointment, I should bathe him.

I'm going to start change my shirt when I come inside as well. I don't want an indoor snuggle session to end up as an itch fest. I think I need to cut his hair now, too. I've been putting that off, 'cause he's so darn cute!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Well, I've been saying I was going to cut my hair for Locks of Love since this past December... but my hair really seemed to slow in growth over the winter. Yesterday I finally had the chance and my ponytail was long enough for a cut... or chop... which ever you prefer. :)

I was so ready for my hair to be gone. It's been getting knotted at night if I don't keep it in a braid or ponytail. It's always in a braid or ponytail actually. If it's not, my hair goes crazy... like it doesn't know it can just lay straight and be pretty... no, it has to fuzz and wave and get in my mouth and DRIVE ME NUTS! :)

Jeff took this before picture the morning of the cut. The ponytail measured close to 13".

I really wasn't nervous at all. The stylist asked what I wanted and I told her, "Ummm... I don't know. Layers? Something that gives some body. I'm tired of flat, straight, always pulled back. Whatever you think is fine with me." She said she thought I was really laid back for the fact that I was chopping off so much hair and didn't really care what the outcome was. LOL!

I told her, "You just don't know how happy I am to sit here and do nothing!" :)

The cut ponytail was almost a full foot.

It was a great hour spent and quite relaxing for me. Next time I just might have to sign up for the salon's mani/pedi, dip in the hot tub, and then a massage. Oh, and try something in their bistro, too! (Yeah, maybe... someday... well, probably won't happen although I would love it!)

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

I'm struggling again. With the tv. With eating. With Jeff's schedule. With blogging and the computer in general. With chores. With connecting with my kids. With grocery shopping and meal planning.

With a balanced life in general.

I am HATING the tv right now. This is National Turn Your TV Off Week and I have yet to reduce any screen time for me or the boys, yet it drives me batty that I haven't! The boys zone in front of the tv and don't hear me when I talk to them... making for a bit of an angry mama. Then I zone in front of the computer and don't hear them when they come talk to me.

I've got to get a handle on this for them and me. It's not their fault that when I get stressed I turn on the tv for them and go about my business... whatever that business is, I really don't know. What do I do with my day???

Oh, yes, I know... the computer. My blog reader has way too many blogs on it. I have joined too many yahoo groups. Facebook is going to be the death of me yet and I have two email addresses that are so overloaded with junk that it takes me 15 minutes to just wade through! Then, of course, there are practical reasons to be on the computer - to print a recipe, find the answer to a quick question, look up a phone number or get driving directions. Still... more time on the computer.

The boys don't know if I'm doing something necessary or just vegging out. To them, I suppose all they know is that they see the back of my head and the light from the screen.

I need to just unplug everything and go get some fresh air!

The rest of my life feels like a similar type of struggle, too. I don't know what I want to cook for the week's suppers because I don't know if Jeff will be home, so I don't menu plan. Without a menu plan, I don't have a grocery list when I shop and come home with a hodge-podge of things that don't really amount to anything.

And why does Jeff not being home have anything to do with the amount of chores I get done around the house? Shouldn't keeping the home be a habit for me already? Shouldn't it be something that I just do every day? I'm falling behind on everything and when the time rolls around for Jeff to be home, I'm so bogged down in laundry and dirty dishes that I can't catch up in time to give him a clean house to come home to. Ugh.

I'm just so mad at myself right now. I feel like I'm just falling apart at the seams and everything I'm whining about is totally in my control. It's like I know what I want to do, but don't do it. This bible verse seems to be my "theme song" these days:

Romans 7:19For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

I reallyjust want to be a good wife and mother. I want to balance my life better. Connect with my kids and make good memories with them. I want them to remember mom reading them stories, playing games, making cookies. I don't want them to remember me sitting at the computer.

I want Jeff to have a virtuous wife.

Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

I don't have to have it all together all of the time, but I want him to be able to rely on me for my part in our family. Lately I've just been in a cloud and not keeping anything together.

Today is a new day! I will do something positive!

Maybe it will just be a load of laundry, maybe it will be planting more seedlings for our garden, maybe it will just be reading a book to the boys. Maybe I'll make some cookies with them. And maybe I'll have a hot, nutritious dinner on the table tonight.

What I do know for sure is that I am turning this computer off for the day and picking up my scattered, weary self.

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Do you remember me talking about SwagBucks? How you can earn free stuff... just for every day internet searches?!?

Well, today's birthday giveaway is a direct result of SwagBuck usage! I have earned a total of $20 in FREE Amazon e-gift cards already and I am offering one $5 e-gift card to one of you! I will give you a code to use during checkout to receive $5 off your internet purchase through Amazon.

HOW TO WIN

One comment per person.

Leave a comment on this post telling me what you would put your $5 toward on Amazon... a book, kitchen utensil, food, toys, electronics? Be specific so I can be nosy and see what everyone wants to buy. LOL!

You do not have to be a blogger to win, but you must leave some way for me to contact you in your comments. I will not hunt you down to tell you that you won... sorry.

You have until NOON on Sunday, April 26, 2009 to enter. The winners will be announced next Monday along with another giveaway! You will have 2 days to respond before you forfeit your e-gift card.

You do not have to join Swagbucks to earn or redeem this prize; however, if you do decide to join, please be sure to use one of the links in this post so I get credit for the referral. Thank you!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The Easter Bunny got a little creative with the baskets this year at our house. He gave the boys big white pails instead. I told Will that I had a talk with the EB the morning he hid their "baskets" and that the buckets were for the boys to use when we harvest our garden this year. Of course they can play with them, too! :)

NATHAN'S

WITT'S

WILL'S

Mr. EB hid the pails in fairly easy spots this year, but he's going to have to do better next year with Will's as he found it almost immediately!

Going through his loot (a sketch pad, a new straw cup, gardening gloves and tools):

The magnifying glass was a HIT!!! He went around the house inspecting lots of different things!

After I got him out of bed, there was a phone call. When I answered the phone, the caller replied, "Knock Knock. Let me in." It was Jeff with a surprise visit for the day!!!

Then we showed Witt his bucket.

The bubbles came out first.

And then of course a little magnifying glass for him, too!

And the sucker had to be opened and eaten. :)

The boys have been sick lately, so they didn't go to worship services. Above are their "Easter portraits" in their pjs. :) Jeff enjoyed the morning with the boys and I went to teach Bible class and enjoy a peaceful worship by myself. We enjoyed the rest of the day together!

Monday, April 13, 2009

I have always (mostly) been an avid reader. I added the mostly part because when my kids were very young I rarely read a book. Thankfully, I'm able to sneak some reading in these days!

Right now I probably have about 5 books started... two of which I read regularly. I have a shelf full of to-be-read books!

Once I joined Paperbackswap, my book shelf went from baby-help books to gardening, parenting and teaching, natural cleaners, help-meet books, nutritional books, etc. I have a wide variety of subjects to read now! I'm currently not much interested in fiction, although I have enjoyed my share of good fictional books in the past. I guess I just have the "learning bug" right now; there is such a world full of knowledge out there!

If you are already a member of PBS, I will just credit your account and you can pick your book at your leisure. If you are not a member, you have two options: 1) Become a member (which is free) so that I can credit your account or 2) Pick a book from the 3, 309,319 books that are currently available on their site within 10 days of the winners being announced.

Be sure that if you become a member that you use one of the highlighted links in this post. I'll receive a book credit for each new member that chooses to post 10 books to swap!

HOW TO WIN?

In the comments section of this post, please tell me the title of your favorite book and a little about why it's your favorite. You may list up to three different books - but be sure to list them as separate comments for a total of three entries.

You do not have to be a blogger to win; however, I believe PBS is limited to the US, so this giveaway will also be limited by that. You must also leave some way for me to contact you in your comments. I will not hunt you down to tell you that you won... sorry.

You have until NOON on Sunday, April 19, 2009 to enter. The winners will be announced next Monday along with another giveaway! You will have 2 days to respond before you forfeit your book.

I gave him such a big hug and a kiss afterward and told him that I was so very proud of him!! He said, "Mom, I love it when you're here." Melt my heart twice in one night!

Although Will has no problem leading a song in front of the entire congregation, he has been very reluctant to pray aloud. We've always offered to let him, but never pushed. Prayer is such a personal thing that I never wanted to make him do it out loud, but now that I've heard it, I must say that there is nothing sweeter than hearing the pure thoughts of a six year old boy pray to our Lord. I pray we'll get to hear more, especially since, sadly, Jeff wasn't able to be here to experience it.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

This is not a plea for parenting help. This is "girl talk" about boys.

So... I have this friend (I promise it's not me) that I think is really wanting a man in her life. Although still in her early 20's I believe she is a "wise soul" with understanding beyond her years. She proclaims herself to be a good "keeper of the home" - not minding the house work, enjoyment of serving others, adores kids, etc. - and would really like to settle down to family life. Personally, if I could... I'd make her my wife. LOL! :)

Although she is surrounded by (intelligent and financially secure) men at work, she is afraid of "looking silly". The image I get is of a puppy dog running around excited and panting. Who wants to be seen like that? Not me.

HOWEVER...

I probably looked exactly like that when Jeff and I first met.

When I first met Jeff I had just come out of a 5 year relationship. My first 3 years of college (yes, it took me 7 years to graduate with a BS... but it wasn't because I was failing... I was just taking my time, transferred schools, got stuck between quarters and semesters, co-oped for 6 quarters, and married a year before I graduated)... ANYWAY.... where was I? Oh yes...

My first 3 years of college were spent dating another guy who was at another college (we met in high school). I never had another guy ask me out during this time, even though my boyfriend was nowhere around. Now, I'm not saying that I was one of those "head turners" that gets asked out all the time, but certainly in the college years, you should be asked out occasionally... IF YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE.

I honestly believe that I never put myself out there. It was like I was always wearing a shirt that said "I'm Taken" because I was constantly giving off the vibe of, "No, don't ask." For me, it wasn't that I didn't want to be seen as silly, but that I was taken.

It wasn't until my boyfriend and I decided to see other people that I began to get asked out... and it wasn't always who I wanted to be asking me, but I was being asked.

Then I met Jeff. He immediately won my heart and from Day 1, we were the goofiest couple of folks you ever saw. LOL! Even though we tried to keep our relationship quiet at first because we worked together, it wasn't long before everyone knew. They could see the silly glances and stares. The could see the flirty smiles and the dancing eyes. They knew an inside-joke when they heard one. I think it just made it worse that we were trying to keep it "hush hush" while the whole mill knew what was going on. :)

We had crazy conversations that I'm sure people overheard. There was one conversation from the first week we met (over 13 years ago!) and I remember it so plainly because it was so stupid (I mean silly!).

Me: Do you want to know what I think? (actually talking about work here)

Jeff: Do you want to know what I think you're thinking? (sly grin)

Me: Do you want to know what I think you're thinking I'm thinking? (sly-er grin)

Jeff: Yes. (huge, beautiful smile)

Was this silly? Oh. my. word. ABSOLUTELY. YES! Do I regret it? NO WAY, JOSE'!

My point is that you have to put yourself out there. Give off the "available" vibe; you don't have to give off the "Open for Business" vibe. There is a difference.

If you are too afraid of looking silly, you're probably giving off the vibe of "NO WAY, don't bother asking"... even if you don't mean to. You don't have to jump in and drown in the sea of men, but at least get your toe wet and start warming up to the water. :)

So there's my (completely not-asked-for, non-professional, while trying to be helpful and encouraging) advice.

What kind of advice do you ladies have? Care to share your story of how you met your man? Or how to warm up to the water in the sea of men? :)

(And to my friend... please don't hate me... I just saw this as a great opportunity to talk about my hubs again!)

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